Damper operating means



Jan. 8, 1935. P, J N 1,987,074

DAMPER OPERATING MEANS Fild April 4, 1935 7 INVENTOR.

' gvzflyl cl 0 :1 31iezu Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED ST TES DAMPER OPERATING MEANS I JQOBrien, :Sacramento, Calif.

Application A ri i, 193s, Serial,No.f664,'358 12 Claims. (01. ts-288i I My invention relates to damper operating means and more particularly to means for raising and lowering to different positionsa-damper plate in a fire place orother passage whereby -'toregu late or out OK draft therethrough.

Among the salient objects of my invention are: to provide a revoluble member having a plurality of straight surfaces positioned at d-ifferent distances from itsaxis of rotation and at an angle to the radial from said axis, said straight surfaces being adapted to be turned to underlie the damper plate whereby to hold it in difierent raised positions, depending on which of said straight surfaces is in operating position; to provide a revoluble supporting rod or shaft for said revoluble operating member on Whichsaid member can be moved to different positions toward and from the hinge or pivot connection of the damper plate, whereby to regulatethe distance the damper plate can be raised by said operating member; to provide an operating member of the character referred to which can be turned in either direction with the operative result, and, in general, to provide a practical, simple and economical damper 23 operating mechanism of the character referred to.

In order to explain my invention, I have shown one practical embodiment thereof on the accompanying sheet of drawings, which I will now describe.

30 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a fireplace, showing my invention in place therein;

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

33 Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 4 and 5 designate a fire-place structure, which can be of any desired construction, with 6 indicating the 40 open side thereof and '7 indicating the passageway upwardly therethrough to the flue. Across the top of the arch or open side 6, is shown an angle iron 8, which supports the structure above the opening 6. Hingedly connected to the inner upper edge of said angle iron 8, as at 9, is a damper plate 10, adapted to close down over the passageway and to close the same, as shown in full lines, said damper plate being shown in section. It will be understood, of course, that it covers the entire passageway up through the structure.

I will now describe the operating means for moving and holding the damper plate in different raised positions of adjustment. Inserted through the front structure 5 andthe inner plate of the angle member -8, is a tube .11, having threaded on its outer end, in the structure il, adial head 12, having around its face, asseen in l iig. 3, the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 andfi, representingsix different positions. On the innerendofsaid-tube 1 1 is -.5 a nut 13, screwed up against the angle member as shown, whereby to firmlyanchor said tubein place th-roughthe wall structure 5. ,An operating rod 14 is inserted through the tube 11, and provided on its outer end with a knob, or handle means 15, m which can be of a design to match other hardware in the home. There is also secured on said operating rod a collar or portion 16 having a point or finger 16 designed to move over the-dial numerals on the dial head 12, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3. l5

On the inner end of said operating. rod 14, is a collar 17, with set screw 17' to secure it in place, to prevent longitudinal movement of said rod through the tube 11. A spring washer 18 is placed between the end of the tube 11 and said collar 17. 20

to give a certain yielding frictional action to said operating rod.

Adjustably mounted on said operating rod 14, is a damper operating member 19, secured in place by meansof a set screw 20, through a hub or boss 19 formed on said member 19, as clearly indicated. I have illustrated this member of heX- agonal form, with a portion cut out, as at 21, to lighten it in its heavier side. This operating member is eccentrically positioned on the operating rod, as will be seen from Fig. 2, whereby the straight edges thereof are positioned at different distances from the axis thereof, thus making it possible, as said operating member is turned and engages the underside of the damper plate 10, to 35 raise said damper plate to different angular positions, one position being shown in light broken lines in Fig. 1. The corners or junctures between the different straight edges are slightly rounded, as shown to facilitate the turning of said operating member.

By providing damper-plate-engaging edges, it will be understood that any tendency of the operating member to turn under the weight of the damper plate is eliminated and the operating member will stay in any one of the six different positions it is turned to.

If these damper plate engaging edges were hollowed out, as indicated at H, in light broken lines on the member 19, Fig. 2, it will be seen that there would be two spaced engaging points, a and b, to underlie the damper plate and the result would be the same and it could notturn. So whatever the shape of the damper operating member, if there are two engaging and supportin full lines, and in raised position in light broken lines. If the operating member is moved on the operating rod 14 closer to the collar 1'7, it willbe evident that the same rotative movement thereof will raise the damper higher, and if the operating member 19 is moved outwardly toward the end of the rod 14, its rotative movement will Y not raise the damper so high.

It will also be seen that the operating member 19 can be turned in either direction bymeans I of the hand knob 15, and the operation is the same, as the member will make a complete revo 1 lution in either direction.

While I have shown one form of operating member, I am aware that'changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do'not, therefore, limit the invention to the showing made, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

Iclaim: I 1. In combination with a damper plate hing- "edly mounted at one side to be raised and lowered at its other side, an operating shaft under said plate and extending at right angles to the hinge axis of said plate, an operating member on said shaft and eccentrically mounted, said operating member having peripheral plate engaging portions at different distances radially from'said shaft to engage and lift said plate different distances as said shaft and operating member are turned, each of said plate engaging portions engaging and supporting said plate on its underside above saidfshaft' and at both sides of a vertical through said shaft, whereby to prevent turning of said operating member by the weight of said plate.

2. In combination with a damper plate hingedlymounted at one side to be raised and lowered at its other side, an operating shaft-under said plate and extending at right angles to the hinge axis of said plate, an operating member eccentricall'y mounted on said shaft and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said operating member having a plurality ofperipheral plate engaging portions at different radial distances from said shaft to engage and support said damper plate at different, angles, each engaging portion engaging said plate on its underside at opposite sides of a vertical through said shaft,

operating member and shaft.

PHILLIP J. O'BRIEN. 

